Qualifications of a housekeeper

You need to understand that as a housekeeper you will be in constant contact with cleaning agents fumes, bacterial and viral infections sometimes left by guests on the bedding or in the bathrooms.You should follow to the guidelines offered by the hotel during your training and pay more attention to detail so that you become the best housekeeper at the hotel where you are employed.

Qualifications of a housekeeper

Housekeeping in hotels plays a crucial part in the industry and is also an important department to the success and reputation of any hotel. There are different requirements that various hotels demand from housekeeping staff, however there are some basic skills and expectations that pertain to all housekeeping employees.

The minimum qualifications of a housekeeper

You must at least be 18 years of age, and have a minimum qualification of a high school diploma and any training in hotel management with a bias in housekeeping. Good customer care is also among the requirements for a housekeeper.

The role of a housekeeper is important because a safe, clean and cozy environment is key to the success of a hotel. Cleaning and maintaining the guest rooms of a hotel is demanding work. This means that as a housekeeper you must be physically fit,be able to stand for long hours, bend, lift and move things around with ease.

Normally as a housekeeper you will often be required to work for extended periods as per demand without taking a break.

You also need to be self motivated as a housekeeper and be able to work under minimum supervision. Trustworthiness and good working ethics are also among the requirements that you should have as a housekeeper.

This kind of job does not pay much but however, sometimes guests can tip you if they feel that you have worked hard and you deserve a token of appreciation. It is really up to you, if you are enthusiastic about your job as a housekeeper then you might just as well earn so much more than your regular salary.

Functions of a housekeeper

1. You are responsible for creating and maintain a clean and comfortable environment for the hotel guests.

2. You are required to clean all areas of the guest rooms such as the bathrooms, sleeping areas, the lounge area and any other area within the guest room. This includes emptying of the waste baskets, cleaning of the mirrors, cleaning the floor with a vacuum cleaner, mopping and replenishing amenities for the bathroom area and the kitchenette.

3. You also have to change the towels, changing of bed ,linen, dusting of the room, cleaning the windows and doors leaving the guest room sparkling clean.

4. You are also responsible for taking stock and reporting to your supervisor of any missing or damaged hotel property.

5. Being courteous and prompt to respond to guest requests and needs is also a requirement as a housekeeper. You are also expected top convey any complaints or praises from the guests to your supervisor or the customer care officer of the hotel.

Good time keeping

You must be good at time keeping as a housekeeper. Given the nature of your job, most of the time you will be assigned a certain number to clean before the end of your shift. Which means you have to be fast footed and neat when working as a housekeeper.

There is normally an allocated amount of time for each room to be cleaned which means that you have to do your work pretty fast but in a neat and tidy manner. You just have to learn how to do things in a snappy manner.

Working long hours

During the peak seasons such as holidays, summer and weekends you may be required to work longer than usual when the hotel is busy.The significance of housekeeping is greatly reflected on the hospitality industry customer satisfaction in hotels. Guests will want to come back to your hotel, if they were impressed by the level of cleanliness, comfort and service they received from the hotel.

You need to understand that as a housekeeper you will be in constant contact with cleaning agents fumes, bacterial and viral infections sometimes left by guests on the bedding or in the bathrooms.You should follow to the guidelines offered by the hotel during your training and pay more attention to detail so that you become the best housekeeper at the hotel where you are employed.

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ANGELA .W. WANDERAI have a passion for writing, I love to share my knowledge with others and enjoy reading and rating articles.I mainly write articles about personal finance, business, home and garden etc.